This topic is usually very debated in the mountaineering/hiking communities. Everyone needs to find a balance between going prepared and going light. Go too prepared and the weight of your pack will slow you too much to succeed, go too light and any adverse situation will turn you back.
I am merely offering up advice from my experience and trainings. You will not likely find anyone that agrees 100% with my advice, but that doesn't make it bad advice.
Talk to others about their opinions as well, in the end the decision is yours for what you need to bring.
Clothing
Layering is the key to your clothing on the Barr Trail. Layering is simply using several thin layers of clothing rather than on thick one. For example don't bring one heavy coat, rather bring a lightweight shell jacket (waterproof and breathable but not insulated) and a fleece and a long sleeved shirt. For the same weight you are now prepared for a wide variety of situations.
You also want to wear appropriate materials. In the mountains, cotton kills. Cotton absorbs large amounts of water and is slow to dry, once wet it does not insulate. Stick with synthetic materials or wool (wool being the prefered of the two).
Footwear should be waterproof, comfortable, have good traction, and be broken in.
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Summer | Fall/Spring | Winter |
- Synthetic T-shirt
- zip-off synthetic pants
- Thin Smartwool Socks
- Waterproof boots
- Sunglasses
- Hat - preferable full brim
- Fleece or Wool hat
- Fleece jacket
- Synthetic Long Johns
- Shell Jacket
- Gloves
- Shell Pants depending on conditions
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- Synthetic T-shirt
- Synthetic/Wool Long Sleeved Shirt
- zip-off synthetic pants
- Smartwool Socks and extra pair
- Waterproof boots
- Sunglasses
- Hat - preferable full brim
- Fleece or Wool hat
- Fleece jacket
- Synthetic Long Johns
- Shell Jacket
- Gloves liners
- Shell Pants
- Waterproof Gloves
- Leg Gaiters
- Fleece Pants
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- Synthetic T-shirt
- Synthetic/Wool Long Sleeved Shirt
- zip-off synthetic pants
- Smartwool Socks and extra pair
- Waterproof insulated boots
- Sunglasses
- Wool hat
- Fleece jacket
- Down Sweater
- Synthetic Long Johns
- Shell Jacket
- Thin Gloves
- Shell Pants
- Waterproof Mittens
- Leg Gaiters
- Fleece Pants
- Balaclava
- Goggles
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Equipment
A person can go broke buying all the new gear available. Don't go crazy, just buy what you need.
One standard that's been around a long time is known as the Ten-Essentials. It has been updated to accomodate a few more items and is now known as the Ten-Essential Systems. This is a great starting point for any hiking and certainly applies on the Barr Trail. For more information on the Ten-Essentials read this REI article.
For several of these items there are multiple ways to come up with the same solution. Water for example. You'll need about 4 liters or more for the trip. So you can put 4 liters in your pack and carry all of that to the summit, or you can pack a couple of water bottles and filter water at the stream crossings, or you can pack two and drink them on the way to Barr Camp and then pay to refill them there. How you solve these details is up to you, just make sure you'll have enough water for the trip.
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Summer | Fall/Spring | Winter |
- Water - 4 liters
- Sunscreen
- Food
- Hiking Poles
- Backpack
- First Aid Kit
- Headlamp
- Emergency Shelter
- Compass
- Map
- Lighter
- Pocket Knife
- Camera
- Batteries
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- Water - 4 liters insulated from freezing
- Sunscreen
- Food
- Hiking Poles
- Backpack
- First Aid Kit
- Headlamp
- Emergency Shelter
- Compass
- Map
- Lighter
- Pocket Knife
- MicroSpikes or Yak-Trax
- Camera
- Batteries
-
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- Water - 4 liters insulated from freezing
- Sunscreen
- Food
- Hiking Poles
- Backpack
- First Aid Kit
- Headlamp
- Emergency Shelter
- Compass
- Map
- Lighter
- Pocket Knife
- MicroSpikes or Yak-Trax
- Camera
- Batteries
- Snowshoes/AT skis
- Ice Axe
- Avalanche Beacon
- Avalanche Probe
- Avalanche Shovel
- Crampons depending on conditions/route
- Sleeping Bag
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Overnight
There are three options for making the Barr Trail into an overnight trip.
The first is to spend the night at Barr Camp. This is a group of cabins, lean-tos, and campsites located approximately halfway up the trail.
There are two hosts that live there year round that are wonderful for sharing stories in the evening. The accomodations there are rustic but maintained well.
They provide breakfast (only at 7am) and also cook an optional dinner each night for the guests. Visit the Barr Camp website for more information.
The second option is to stay at the A-Frame. This is a shelter constructed just below treeline. It only has 3 sides and a sleeping platform.
The third option is to bring your own tent and camp in the national forest. The trail runs almost entirely through the national forest, however you are not allowed to camp in the area surrounding Barr Camp.
Besides that just avoid private property and abide by the Leave-No-Trace principles (mostly the don't camp within 200 feet of streams and trails).
Quite a few people have made camping spots right near No-Name Creek, please resist the temptation to continue using those and find one 200 feet away from the stream.
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Barr Camp | A-Frame | Tent |
- Sleeping Bag - not provided
- Money - For additonal meals and water
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- Sleeping Bag
- Water filter/purifier
- Stove/pan/utensils for cooking
- Extra food
- tarp to cover A-frame opening
- extra batteries
- sleeping pad
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- Sleeping Bag
- Water filter/purifier
- Stove/pan/utensils for cooking
- Extra food
- tarp to cover A-frame opening
- extra batteries
- sleeping pad
- Tent
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